Murder and Manslaughter Abroad: Family Information Guide (England and Wales)

I am today announcing the publication of the family information guide for families bereaved by murder and manslaughter abroad.

I recognise how deeply distressing and traumatic such events are, and the Government are committed to ensuring that such victims can access the help that they need. This guidance sets out the support available from agencies and specialist services in England or Wales.

Until now, there has been no single, victim-oriented guide, which has often led to challenges for families in understanding what is available to them. This new guidance consolidates existing information as to the services available to support families, and signposts support in a way that is clear and accessible. Through this guidance, we aim to improve awareness of the support available, offering reassurance to families at a difficult time.

The guidance sets out:

What families can expect in the immediate aftermath of a death abroad, including initial contact and support from agencies in England and Wales;

The ongoing support available to family members to help them through this difficult time and which meets their individual needs. This includes access to emotional support, legal guidance, financial assistance and referrals to specialist services.

The roles and responsibilities of agencies and support services with which families may engage, in order to ensure families understand who is involved, what each agency does and how they can help.

Clear information on how to access services and what to expect at each stage of the process.

I am grateful for the commitment of Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Home Office and the National Police Chiefs’ Council in preparing this guidance.

I also wish to thank the Victims Commissioner’s Office and the charity Murdered Abroad for their invaluable support in making this guidance as helpful as possible for victims, and for their continued commitment to improving services for bereaved families.

I pay tribute to the late Baroness Newlove, whose advocacy for families bereaved by murder and manslaughter abroad was instrumental in shaping this guidance.

The guidance will be available online, at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/murder-and-manslaughter-abroad-family-information-guide

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